Discover China's star attractions from the imperial cities of the north to the karst-studded landscapes of the south with pandas, temples and giant buddhas thrown in for good measure.Plan your tailor-made holiday

Plan your Chinese adventure with our handy resources that cover everything from health and money to visas and when best to visit. Discover the top spots worth visiting, make the most of your visit to the Great Wall and see where's best to meet China's black and white emblem - the giant panda.View Our Travel Guide

Shanghai to Beijing - 8 days

Travelling from Shanghai to the capital, cruise the canals of Suzhou, cycle the City Wall in Xi’an, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, take a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs in Beijing and climb the Great Wall.

A city with a turbulent history and a promising future, Shanghai is the best of old and new with grand colonial architecture engulfed by gleaming skyscrapers. Today we embark on a guided tour taking in sites including the lofty Plaza Tower, tranquil Yu Garden, the Old City and the bustling Bund. In the evening we’ll take a cruise on Huangpu River and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast, Dinner

Shanghai - Suzhou - Xi'an. Today we travel by road to ancient Suzhou. A sort of oriental Venice, ancient Suzhou is interwoven by a series of canals and pretty waterways which feed a series of classical gardens, laid out here since the Song dynasty a thousand years ago, they are justly famous across China.

Suzhou sits very close to the Grand Canal, here we enjoy a cruise on the Grand Canal before exploring the Lingering Garden - a beautiful classical Chinese garden dating back from the Ming Dynasty. Today’s final visit is a silk workshop before returning to Shanghai for our overnight train to Xi’an.Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast, Lunch

Upon arrival into Xi'an we transfer to our hotel for breakfast and check in with time to freshen up. Today we visit the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xian’s most iconic landmarks, followed by the vibrant Muslim Quarter.

Later we enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the Xi’an City Wall. Dating back to 1370 the 12m-high walls are some of the few remaining urban fortifications still standing in China today. Tonight, there is an optional Tang Dynasty add-on, which includes dinner and traditional performance, book with your travel consultant to secure your place.Overnight: Xi'an | Breakfast

Xi'an - Beijing. Today we visit the famous Terracotta Warrior archaeological site. Emperor Qin’s 2,200 year old terracotta army of life-sized warriors and horses were designed to offer protection to the emperor in the afterlife. The 7,000 clay warriors stand in military formation in excavated pits under the cover of a modern protective hanger and no two faces are alike.

Later we visit the clay workshop, specialising in making replica figurines of the Terracotta Warriors. After dinner we board the overnight express train bound for Beijing.Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast, Lunch

We arrive into Beijing bright and early this morning, where we’ll enjoy a full day of sightseeing in the city. Our first stop will be Tiananmen Square and the sprawling Forbidden City. Boasting some 9999 rooms, the city within a city was once the sole preserve of the Chinese emperors. This afternoon we take a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs and have lunch in the home of a local family, before watching a Chinese Acrobatic performance in the evening.Overnight: Beijing | Breakfast, Lunch

Make sure you don some comfortable shoes today as we set out to walk a section of the famous Great Wall. Zig zagging some 6000 kilometres across barren hills, deserts and mountains, the now partially ruinous Great Wall stretches from east to west in northern China and was constructed over a period of 2000 years. The wall is steep in sections but the photo opportunities are well worth the effort.

After our walk we have lunch and visit a jade carving factory. In the afternoon we visit the bustling Pearl Market where you'll find anything from jewellery and clothing to gadgets and DVDs.Overnight: Beijing | Breakfast, Lunch

Saturday. Our Chinese adventure comes to an end today. Hotel check out and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Breakfast

Prices & Dates

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.

Ramada Encore Shanghai Hotel , Shanghai

Ideally located close to several plazas and shopping centres, this modern hotel offers you a comfortable stay in one of China’s fastest growing cities. Guestrooms are equipped with all the essential amenities, with free WiFi and access to the breakfast buffet included. The onsite Dakang Restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, and you can expect a tasty menu featuring both Western and Chinese cuisine. Other amenities include a fitness centre, coffee shop and small convenience store.

Wan Nian Grand Hotel, Xi'an

The Wan Nian Grand is a comfortable, friendly hotel with light and spacious guest rooms. Elegantly decorated, the rooms also boast modern amenities and the hotel has a wealth of facilities including an indoor pool and sauna house, a cafe and bar, and well-equipped business centre.
The hotel is located 4 kilometres from the railway station and 30 kilometres from the airport.

Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, Beijing

The Beijing Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven is an elegant and comfortable hotel with well-furnished and spacious rooms. Practical in design, the guestrooms feature internet access and the hotel also boasts a range of restaurants and bars, as well as an indoor swimming pool. Located just a 10 minute walk from the Temple of Heaven, the hotel is the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city.

Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan, Beijing

Located just a stones throw from the Beitucheng Subway station, with access to Line 10 & Line 8, the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan is a perfect base to explore the many amazing highlights of Beijing. Within walking distance of the hotel you'll find the famous Birds Nest Olympic Stadium. The hotel boasts a stylish restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Reviews

Travellers have rated this tour as 4.79
out of 5
based on 14 recent reviews

The tour was fabulous. James was very informative and showed a personal interest in making sure everyone was happy and catered to, nothing was a problem. The places we visited were beyond our expectations. We highly recommend a tour with On The Go.”

Arie and Ellen Herlaar &bullet; Submitted 26 Oct 2018

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Had a fabulous holiday in china, weather was very kind. Jackie our tour guide was brilliant any thing you wanted was never to much trouble, he spoke very good English .I must say he was the best tour guides I've been on a tour with.”

Jackie Beecroft &bullet; Submitted 27 Jul 2018

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I just want to thank On The Go Tours for a fantastic holiday. Everything was exceptionally well organised. Our flight to Shanghai was delayed but when we arrived at the airport, our tour guide was waiting for us. He was so friendly and immediately made us feel at home. Jackie has a very uplifting and outgoing personality and he made sure that everyone had a marvelous time in China. Thank you ON THE GO for making this dream to see China come true. A special thank you to Jackie without whom the tour would not have been the same. We will definitely make use of On The Go again for future travels. ”

Esther Wallis &bullet; Submitted 17 Jul 2018

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Very enjoyable tour, and Peter was a great guide - very helpful and informative. The itinerary in Xi'an and Beijing were good, but I would have changed things in Shanghai. As there was only a limited time in Shanghai, leaving the hotel at 11am felt like we lost half a day of touring. I would have preferred to spend more time at Yu Gardens, or going to Jing'an Temple. ”

Katherine Mudge &bullet; Submitted 16 Jun 2018

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The tour was amazing , saw things that you would never see without a good knowledgeable Guide , our Guide Peter was absolutely brilliant he went above and beyond every day making sure we had the best time. ”

Tracey Douglas &bullet; Submitted 30 May 2018

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Enjoyable tour, very good tour leader, nice small group of people to travel with. Shame about poor weather the first few days. In Shanghai as we saw nothing but cloud at the top of the Shanghai tour. Weather was hot in Beijing. Highlights were Terracotta warriors, Great Wall of China and Beijing acrobats. Overall I felt this tour represented good value for money.”

Rosemary Engelmann &bullet; Submitted 30 May 2018

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Awesome from beginning to end. Thank you On The Go Tours ”

Michelle Yandell &bullet; Submitted 29 Apr 2018

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Absolute.y fantastic tour. Jackie was an amazing tour guide. Incredibly attentive with nothing being too much trouble. He deserves your top award for customer service. ”

Lorraine Coe &bullet; Submitted 18 Nov 2017

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The trip was absolutely amazing and I would like to thank On the Go tours once again for choosing me as a winner. The cities we visited were so different , yet the same the guides were so knowledgeable in each of their respective regions, nothing was too much trouble for them and they each ensured that their little chickens were well cared for. The experience was so mind changing in all aspects from food to culture to everyday living. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who is considering going to China. our group although small got on so well and we became one happy family ensuring that each person got the most from the experience. I certainly have made some new and special friends thanks to you. I will send through some photos to you within the next week or 2. just have a few major events to sort for year end. Best regards and thanks.
”

The tour was fabulous. James was very informative and showed a personal interest in making sure everyone was happy and catered to, nothing was a problem. The places we visited were beyond our expectations. We highly recommend a tour with On The Go.”

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change or delay your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time.

China Group Tours

Our fun and informative group tours are perfect for first-time visitors with the services of qualified English-speaking local guides, plenty of sightseeing covering China's main highlights and enough free time for you to explore too.

With the Great Wall topping most travellers' wish lists in China, closely followed by the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, we've ensured that all our China group tours include these two incredible sites.

Our trips typically have between 15 and 20 travellers and are escorted by a local Chinese guide who will organise day-to-day activities, ensure smooth hotel check-ins and with their expert local knowledge, provide tips on where to shop or eat. We also use specialist local guides at key sights of interest to maximise your experience.

Accommodation is in comfortable 3-4 star well-managed, centrally located hotels and we include arrival and departure transfers, all transportation, guided sightseeing and a number of your meals. When kicking off our travels in Beijing or Shanghai we start with a group meal, affording you the chance to meet your travelling companions over a Peking Duck dinner or traditional Chinese feast before the adventure really begins!

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.

If you are happy to be paired up with another single traveller of the same sex on your tour, this can be arranged, thus avoiding the single person supplement.

Signature

Exciting Days, Comfortable Nights

On The Go's Signature group tours place local interaction and authenticity at the heart of your cultural travel experience. Upping the comfort stakes, this range is a clear cut above our Budget range.

Appealing to a wide age demographic from the 20s to 60+, we maximize your days with excitement and awe and then bring you home to a comfortable 4* hotel with western amenities, air-conditioning, WiFi and, where appropriate, a swimming pool. Hotels can sometimes be of 3 or 5 star standard too, ensuring you get the best value for your holiday.

Visiting all the main attractions you’ll be accompanied throughout by our highly qualified English-speaking local guides too. Group size is typically 18 with a maximum for 24, apart from festival tours, where group sizes can be larger due to the one-off nature of these events.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

Compare Tours

Select up to 3 tours to compare prices, itineraries and complete tour options:

For all our tours and tailor-made holidays we provide you with a clear categorisation of all hotels we use. The REGIONAL CATEGORY indicates the local rating of each hotel in each respective country. We have also rated each hotel using OUR CATEGORY, which will be in line with generally accepted western hotel grading standards.

SimpleBasic hotels and simple accommodation is a no frills option with an adventurous authentic feel.

StandardStandard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant.

SuperiorSuperior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre.

DeluxeDeluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care.

LavishLavish accommodation equates to a Western 5-star plus standard - the creme de la creme. Featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, this accommodation is a cut above the rest. Sheer opulence!

Tipping Kitty

Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in China, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.